Stepping into the metro I was greeted by a wall of Marshal that made me glad for the cotton in my ears. Seriously I'm pretty sure that front man J Mascis actually plugs it all in, on the sonic peril scale I rate it 5x the Hard Ons. Total sonic annihilation! If Mascis and Lemmy ever played at the same time the universe would end due to LOUD.

The audience vibe took me back to the 90's, complete with early 20s heckling jocks that probably smoke cones listing to Nirvana. I spent the wait talking to a fan about early Tumbleweed gigs, it was his 5th Dinosaur Jr show. It was my first. And I have to admit that I was a little apprehensive, I had seen J Mascis solo supporting Sonic Youth and it was one of the best things that I've ever seen on stage. Hard act to live up to. I was also concerned that maybe they just didn't have it any more as a band.

My fears were misplaced. It was a great show. I had failed to appreciate that while some of their peers had hiatus's and then cynically got back together to cash in, that these guys had never stopped playing. Through Sebadoh and J Mascis solo, the two songwriters had stayed sharp as musicians. The show combined elements of what I love about Dinosaur Jnr with what I love of their work outside the band. The band had retained the qualities I love from their albums but still developed. I had expected Mascis to be brilliant. I wasn't sure how they would go as a band. But what I hadn't expected was how great Lou Barlow is. I, like many, hadn't fully acknowledged that it's a band. Lou I apologise, you are awesome, Sebadoh is awesome, Dinosaur Jnr is awesome. Thanks for the music.

Their hunger to make new music and the tension and history between the band members has kept Dinosaur Jnr as vital and relevant as ever. The broad demographic of the audience (albeit a sausage fest), from middle aged music nerds, to musicians, and young wasted college guys shows that it's one of those classic bands that transcend their original scene. In Australia it's worth noting that one of the reasons that bands like Dinosaur jnr has been exposed to wider audience is the promoter Feel Presents. Regardless of popular tastes Feel always bring out the bands that they think they should. Checkout the tour archives on their website it's an impressive list! (thanks Tim).

Watching support act Bed Wetting Bad Boys rocking out side stage while Mascis did his grunge shred was classic. What do you call grunge shredding anyway?? sludge!  or maybe shrunge?? no definitley sludge! SLUDGE!!!

The stand out songs were: Mountain Man, The Lung, and Sludgefest.

Image courtesy of Kalindy Millions - http://wewerewarriors.tumblr.com/